Let's keep it real here, forget all the distractions, the BLACKCAPS were thoroughly outplayed by their trans-Tasman rivals. This Test resembled the years of mediocrity we had been served up by the BLACKCAPS in Test cricket, especially against the Aussies who once again made us their bunnies.

Brendon McCullum said after this Test that the Australian's first innings with the bat in which Usman Khawaja and Adam Voges went large, with Steve Smith also chipping in, took the game away from the BLACKCAPS. Understandable, when your opponent enjoys success early in a Test, you're generally struggling to keep up with them and the game, however the most miserable aspect of this was the lack of any tangible desire to save the Test.

You can't win every Test, well the BLACKCAPS certainly can't, they can however grit their teeth and try fight their way to a draw. At various moments in this Test I heard commentators and fans saying how there was plenty of time left, which was true and provided optimism until it become apparent that our batsmen simply lacked the mental fortitude or technical nous to bat time. 

Fair play, life is rough of a green-seamer on the first day. The way Tom Latham (63), Martin Guptill (45), Kane Williamson (22), Henry Nicholls (59) and McCullum (10) gave up starts with the Test on the line in the second innings didn't make for good viewing. Latham and Guptill were caught in-front of square, well taken catches as they played aggressive shots, unnecessary shots in Test cricket, let alone when the Test is on the line.

There definitely appeared to be an ODI hangover. This will always be the case when you play ODI cricket, quickly switch to Test cricket and then try too hard to feel bat on ball. Players talk about changing modes and that it isn't a difficult task, nor should it be but it's hard to ignore what we saw from the kiwi batsmen. 

Australia however threw this theory out the window, or are they just actually good enough to be able to quickly transition between modes? Khawaja and Voges showed expert knowledge of their games, gained through years of domestic experience (in a much tougher environment that Plunket Shield cricket). It wasn't the ease at which they scored which caught my eye, it was their content nature and desire in defending, leaving, respecting a good delivery that impressed. Ya know, normal Test cricket stuff.

The Australian bowlers also put their kiwi opponents in the shade, which is a worry when you consider that this is a weakened Aussie attack. Tim Southee, Trent Boult and even Doug Bracewell are extremely dangerous when the ball and pitch are helping them. Relying on them to dot it up and build pressure in less favourable conditions is more of a stretch, especially when Mark Craig is serving up a boundary ball each over. 

Craig, like the BLACKCAPS team, has traditionally started Test series' slowly so I've learned not to rip on him after first Tests. I don't really need to rip on him though as he just gave us what we have come to expect from him with threatening, dipping, spinning, bouncing deliveries thrown in amongst trash. Good batsmen are willing to defend the quality balls, safe in the knowledge that they will be gifted with a bad ball soon enough.

Nathan Lyon once again showed his class as the ultimate trans-Tasman offie, taking 7 wickets for the Test led by his 4/91 off 31 overs in the second dig. Lyon effectively put Craig and even the kiwi pace attack in the shade in their own backyard.

The best thing about this Test was the battle between Kane Williamson and Josh Hazlewood, two of the best young cricketers on the planet right now. Hazlewood is a gem of a bowler, who as I said in the preview, is the second coming of Glenn McGrath thanks to a desire to hone in on just-outside-off-stump and wait for the batsman (Williamson) to crack. Hazlewood bowled 10 balls to Williamson in the first innings and served up 9 dots, followed by 17 balls and 14 dots in the second innings, showcasing Hazlewood's patient approach to Williamson and desire to tie him down.

With Ross Taylor absent and McCullum highly unreliable, Williamson is the guy for the BLACKCAPS and you can't expect the kiwis to win a Test against Australia without Taylor when Williamson scores 16 and 22. Australia did a job on Williamson and I don't think it's a coincidence that they also steamrolled the kiwis in this Test. The BLACKCAPS currently don't have the luxury of a Taylor or a few more world class Test batsmen alongside Williamson, placing huge pressure on Williamson.

Positives for the BLACKCAPS? Well Tom Latham scored his second half-century in four innings after he hit 65 for Canterbury in the Plunket Shield and then knocked 63 here. Latham and Henry Nicholls, who scored 59, showed the desire and grit that we need, it's just that we can't rely on young lads for big runs when everyone else is super average.

Our tail-enders can bat, we know that and 40s from Craig and Tim Southee were nice. I'd rather they take dominate with the ball and not have to bat though.

I now find no joy in Southee's antics with the bat. Zero. When Southee bats, I zone out, regardless of how many sixes he may hit.

Australia are currently better at Test cricket than we are, simple. Watch out for the preview of the second Test, until then ponder whether you would rather have a pretty good BLACKCAPS ODI team who can't beat good Test teams or a Test team who are competing with the best Test teams and are hoo-hum in ODIs.

Any way, they get a day off...